Are you considering whether you need to replace your home’s central heating, ventilation, and air conditioning unit—commonly known as your HVAC system? As a general rule, if your existing HVAC system is more than 15 years old, it’s only a matter of time before it starts to cost more to maintain than it would to replace it with a new system. In addition to higher energy bills brought on by a system that can no longer function at peak efficiency, repair costs will also start to add up as parts are replaced and the ventilation system undergoes major overhauls.
If your furnace needs to be repaired, you’ll want to find a qualified heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) repair technician. Each state has its own licensing requirements; some require all HVAC technicians to have an HVAC license, while others only require someone operating an HVAC service and installation company with employees to hold a contractor’s license. For example, in Alabama, the Alabama Board of Heating Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Contractors regulates licensing, while in Kansas there is no state regulatory body and HVAC licensing can vary by region. For simple furnace repairs like changing out a filter, a trusted handyman can probably handle the job, but a trained professional should be hired for tasks like replacing a gas valve, installing a new inducer fan motor or other critical furnace repair jobs that involve dealing with gas leaks or other dangerous conditions. For more, check out our tips for smart hiring on Thumbtack.
Check the thermostat to see if the Fan switch has been turned on. If it has, turn it to OFF or to Auto. If it is set to OFF or Auto already, the heat pump’s limit switch needs to be adjusted. Call a heat pump repair technician to make the adjustment or, if you are handy with this type of repair, follow the instructions in your owner’s manual to reset the pointers on the fan side of the limit control. The lower pointer should be set to about 90 degrees F. and the upper one should be at about 115 degrees F.
If your air ducts have been damaged, you’ll need to replace them. The national average air duct replacement cost is $150-$280, which may not include materials. Factors such as duct material, labor, location of ducts and linear feet of ductwork will all affect your final costs. Labor costs will vary based on how accessible the ducts are and what material your ducts are made of. The least expensive duct material is a flexible, non-metallic ducting that costs approximately $1-$2 per linear foot. Flexible aluminum is generally more expensive and stronger than non-metallic ducting. Stainless steel ducting is the strongest, the least flexible (meaning installing it typically has higher labor rates), and usually the most expensive. An average price for air duct replacement could range between $35 and $55 per linear foot, including basic materials and labor. A typical single-family home has 6-10 duct runs; replacing or installing one duct run could average $150-$250 for labor.
To clean your air conditioner drain, first shut off the power to your unit at both the thermostat and the breaker. Then remove the drain pan. If the pan is full of water, soak up the liquid with a few towels or rags or use a wet vacuum. You can use a solution of water and distilled vinegar, or substitute peroxide for the vinegar, to clean out the drain pipe. Let the pipe sit for a while in the solution and then put all the parts back in place. Once you start using your air conditioner on a regular basis, check it periodically to ensure condensation isn't building up.
"Mike and crew were very prompt, very neat, and they quickly remedied the issue with our AC. Others, have tried to sell us on more than we actually needed. Mike was very honest about NOT replacing unnecessary parts. Superior was NOT the low bid, but they were close to it, and provided a very pleasant experience for this homeowner! I recommend you give Mike the opportunity address your Heating/AC issues and you can see for yourself why he has 5 Stars on all his reviews! Thanks Mike!"
To keep your furnace in good working order it’s important to have it regularly cleaned. The national average furnace cleaning cost ranges from $60 to $80, though prices can vary greatly based on where you live in the country and what your furnace maintenance includes. An HVAC company may have different rates for different levels of furnace maintenance. For example,one company may offer general furnace maintenance for $79 and advanced maintenance for $138. Another company may offer a 38-point maintenance check for $89 and a 64-point maintenance check for $178. According to Energy.gov, a standard furnace cleaning and maintenance visit can include:
A contactor is a $25 mechanical relay that uses low-voltage power from the thermostat to switch 220-volt high-amperage current to the compressor and condenser fan. AC contactors can wear out and are at the top of the list of common air conditioning service failures. Even if your contactor is working, it pays to replace it every five years or so. Unscrew the old contactor before removing the wires. Then move the wires to the new unit (photo 6).

There’s nothing like a warm indoor space to take the sting out of a blustery winter day, but there’s nothing worse than a heater that quits just when you need it most. Losing heat for any length of time can be inconvenient at best and dangerous at worst. Fortunately, when you partner with Cool Care Heating & Air, you can rest assured that whether you need emergency heating repair or annual furnace maintenance, we’ll go all out to keep you comfortable. Cool Care Heating & Air is a Bryant Factory Authorized Dealer, so you can always count on prompt service, a courteous attitude, reasonable prices and top-shelf products.

If your home is not heated using forced air, chances are a boiler will make sure you stay warm during cold nights. A hot water system delivers hot water through a network of pipes that run to every room in your house. The heating effect gets maximized through radiators. The most common issues with hot water heating tend to be not be major, but small problems that add up over time. Mineral deposits within the water tank, a pilot light malfunction, or an issue with a radiator itself can require professional repair. On average, you will pay between $183 and $582 for these problems. The exact amount will depend on the exact problem, as described in our boiler repair cost guide.

At Sky Heating & Air Conditioning, we understand that HVAC services can really hurt your budget. Many times, you don’t expect to make such large purchases until an emergency arises. We never want you to feel that you cannot afford your comfort and safety. We offer flexible financing options through the Home Project credit card from Wells Fargo, with approved credit. Head over to our financing page to apply, or give us a call for more information!

1 Be sure the thermostat is set to the proper setting (Heat if you’re calling for heat and the temperature you want the room to be). If the thermostat was replaced recently, the new thermostat may either be the wrong type (it must be specifically a heat pump thermostat) or it may have been wired improperly. A mistakenly wired thermostat can fry electronic components, preventing the heat pump from working properly.
Extensive training – Over the years, we have had to learn continually and update our skills to stay top-of-the-line. We continue to offer state-of-the-art products today with the service skills to match. We offer 800 hours of training classes to our technicians every year. They also have access to factory resource personnel and engineers for consultation.

"Mike and crew were very prompt, very neat, and they quickly remedied the issue with our AC. Others, have tried to sell us on more than we actually needed. Mike was very honest about NOT replacing unnecessary parts. Superior was NOT the low bid, but they were close to it, and provided a very pleasant experience for this homeowner! I recommend you give Mike the opportunity address your Heating/AC issues and you can see for yourself why he has 5 Stars on all his reviews! Thanks Mike!"